Pritchard - Who Is That Man?

Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead?

Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Luke 24:5)

Several years ago we visited the Holy Land for the fifth time. We ended our last day of touring in Jerusalem by going to the Garden Tomb, the spot believed by many to be the actual burial place of Jesus. It is located next to Gordons Calvary, that strange rock outcropping that appears to be worn into the shape of a skull. In Jesus day we know it was used as a burial site. Many believe it was the spot of the crucifixion.

The Garden Tomb is located about 100 yards from Gordons Calvary and is in fact the spot of a beautiful garden built over an ancient Roman aqueduct. To your left as you enter is a typical first-century tomb dug into the hillside. A trench in front of the opening was apparently designed for the massive stone that once covered the entrance.

Because the opening is very small, I had to duck to go inside. For a few seconds, you see nothing until your eyes adjust to the darkness. Then you can easily make out the two chambers. Visitors stand in the mourners chamber. A wrought-iron fence protects the chamber where the body was laid. You soon notice that the burial chamber was originally designed for two bodies. However one ledge was never finished for some reason. The other one was. It appears to be designed for a person slightly less than six feet tall.

As I looked around the burial chamber, I could see faint markings left by Christian pilgrims from earlier centuries. After a few seconds another thought enters the mind. There is no body to be found in this tomb. Whoever was buried there evidently left a long time ago. The Garden Tomb is empty!

As you exit back into the sunlight, your eyes fasten upon a wooden sign: He is not here, for he is risen.

On this Easter morning I am happy to declare those ancient words once again. The empty tomb really is empty because Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead.

Let the people of God rejoice. He is risen! He is risen indeed.

Living Lord Jesus, be born anew in our hearts today. Lead us to the empty tomb. May we hear the angels voice declare, He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Let faith rise to banish our fears. May those who doubt, doubt no more. May Easter joy fill our hearts today. Through him and to him who is the resurrection and the life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Who is That Man?

And Other Important Questions

A Lenten Devotional

by Dr. Ray Pritchard

Ive Got a Question

Its always fun when someone says that.

You never what will come next.

Questions are exciting because they shake things up. A good question cuts through the fog of a long discussion and forces us to confront the big issues. A good question causes the rest of us to stop and say, Hey, I wondered that about that myself.

Good questions open doors to let the truth come in.

Thats one reason the gospels are full of questions:

Who is this man?

Do you love me?

What is your name?

Are you trying to destroy us?

Are you saying were blind?

Who touched me?

Why this waste?

Each question reveals something about the person who asked. Each question points us in the direction of new truth. Each question ultimately brings us face to face with Jesus Christ.

In this Lenten journey we will focus on questions found in the four gospels.

Some are questions asked to Jesus.

Some are questions asked about Jesus.

Some are questions asked by Jesus.

Taken together all of them reveal important spiritual truth we need to know. Lou Holtz, the famous football coach, once remarked that, I never learn things when I am talking. I only learn things when I ask questions. If that is true, then we should get ready to learn a lot this Lenten season.

Lets start our journey together with a question Jesus asked his disciples. Its a question he asks each of us today.

What Are You Looking For?

What are you looking for?" (John 1:38)

This is Day 1 of Lent, the 40 days of preparation leading up to Easter. A quick check of the Wikipedia entry will give you some helpful background. Note that in the Western tradition, Lent starts today with Ash Wednesday and continues until Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. Sundays are not counted as part of the forty days because each Sunday is meant to be a mini-Easter remembrance.

In the evangelical wing of the church, were never sure what to do about Lent. Mostly we have ignored it. But there is great value in preparing our hearts for big events. And Easter is the ultimate Big Event.

This year were focusing on questions, either the questions people asked of Jesus or about Jesus or the questions Jesus himself asked. In reading through the gospels, I have been amazed at how many questions they contain. We cant begin to cover them all so in these next few weeks leading up to Easter, we will focus on questions that get to some core issues of the spiritual life.

Lets begin today with a question Jesus asked to two of the earliest disciples.

What are you looking for?" (John 1:38)

His first question was not about sin or righteousness.

It wasnt about his own identity. That would come later.

It was not accusatory or hostile.

His first question was an invitation.

I think the question caught the disciples off guard. Jesus had a habit of doing that. He often asked questions not to gather information but to get people to think.

As we start this Lenten journey that will lead us all the way to Easter Sunday, we should ask ourselves the same question: What am I looking for?

If you arent sure about the answer, thats okay. Jesus told the first disciples to come and see (John 1:39). He says the same to us today. Verse 40 says they spent the day with him. That same invitation is for us too.

Our desires hold great power because they shape our destiny. What do you need that only the Lord can provide?

If we dare to say we are looking for Jesus, he will invite us to come and spend the day with him.

Lord, as we begin this Lenten journey, purify our hearts so that we will not be satisfied with anything less than you. Amen.

Who is This Man?

Who is this man who speaks blasphemies?" (Luke 5:21)

Closed minds come in many varieties.

In this case the Pharisees were offended when Jesus forgave the paralytic whose friends lowered him through the roof. Who does Jesus think he is, claiming the power to forgive sins? Thats why they said he was speaking blasphemies.

The Pharisees were closer to the truth than they realized. They reasoned this way:

1. Only God can forgive sins.

2. This man is claiming to do that which only God can do.

3. Obviously this man is a blasphemer.

The Pharisees are a classic example of the perpetually-closed mind. They are brilliant, analytical, informed, well-read and highly-educated, but they have no category big enough for Jesus. As a healer? Yes. A teacher? Yes. A wise man? Yes. The Son of God from heaven? No way. They have no room for that new idea.